Denial of Service (DoS)

A denial of service is a malicious attack that is meant to shut down an organization's service and data network. 

Means of contact

• Email
• Text
• Internet
• Phone

Description of fraud
The purpose of DoS attacks is to temporarily or indefinitely disrupt a company's service or the network. Flooding attacks are the most common and include flooding a website or network with traffic. The site becomes overloaded as a result and cannot respond, so it shuts down. Crash attacks are less common, but carry greater impact. 

Tactics used
There are a number of signs of a DoS attack. These include a slow down of your network when opening files or accessing websites, an inability to access websites, retrieve data, or control processes. 

What to look for

• Do not click on links or call the number on urgent-looking pop-ups when you are online. Legitimate companies will not contact you with this kind of information.

• Be careful if you download software from third party websites such as music, games, movies or adult sites, unless you have done your research on the company and can confirm they are legitimate.

• Watch out for emails with spelling and formatting errors, and be wary of clicking on any attachments or links. They may contain viruses or spyware.

• Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and keep your operating system up-to-date. Never give anyone remote access to your computer. If you are having problems with your system, bring it to a local technician.

Additional information
Read our article to learn more about ransomware and how to protect yourself.